Rivers Administrator Ibas Cancels All Pending Procurement, Tender Processes

The sole administrator of Rivers State, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), has cancelled all pending procurement and tender processes initiated under the administration of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

President Bola Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, and consequently suspended Fubara, his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu and the State House of Assembly.

Tinubu, thereafter, announced Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, as the sole administrator of the state.

The sole administrator, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday, said the action was in adherence to the February 28, 2025 judgement of the Supreme Court.

The statement, which was signed by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Professor Ibiba Worika, advised all ministries, departments and agencies that carried out such procurement and tender processes to refund such tender fees to the respective bidders without delay.

It read in part: “In adherence to the Supreme Court judgement upholding the Appeal Court ruling in Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024 and in the absence of an Appropriation Law, the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (RTD.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, CFR, wishes to notify the general public that all procurement and tender processes that were carried out by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) during the period are hereby cancelled.

“Accordingly, all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that carried out such tender processes for projects in their respective offices are, by this special announcement, mandated to refund such tender fees to the respective contractors immediately, pending the approval of a spending plan by the State, which shall be notified in due course.”